GINA ALGORITHM 2017

Managing Exacerbations For Adults,

Adolescents And Children 6 Years
And Older
 Managing exacerbations in primary care for adults, adolescents and children
6 years and older
PRIMARY CARE Patient presents with acute or sub-acute asthma exacerbation

Is it asthma?
ASSESS the PATIENT Risk factors for asthma-related death?
Severity of exacerbation?

MILD or MODERATE SEVERE

Talks in phrases, prefers Talks in words, sits hunched LIFE-THREATENING
sitting to lying, not agitated forwards, agitated Drowsy, confused
Respiratory rate increased Respiratory rate >30/min or silent chest
Accessory muscles not used Accessory muscles in use
Pulse rate 100120 bpm Pulse rate >120 bpm
O2 saturation (on air) 9095% O2 saturation (on air) <90%
PEF >50% predicted or best PEF 50% predicted or best URGENT

START TREATMENT
TRANSFER TO ACUTE
SABA 410 puffs by pMDI + spacer,
repeat every 20 minutes for 1 hour CARE FACILITY
WORSENING While waiting: give inhaled SABA
Prednisolone: adults 1 mg/kg, max.
50 mg, children 12 mg/kg, max. 40 mg and ipratropium bromide, O2,
Controlled oxygen (if available): target systemic corticosteroid
saturation 9395% (children: 94-98%)

GINA 2017, Box 4-3 (4/7) Global Initiative for Asthma

 START TREATMENT
SABA 410 puffs by pMDI + spacer, TRANSFER TO ACUTE
repeat every 20 minutes for 1 hour CARE FACILITY
Prednisolone: adults 1 mg/kg, max. WORSENING
While waiting: give inhaled SABA
50 mg, children 12 mg/kg, max. 40 mg and ipratropium bromide, O2,
Controlled oxygen (if available): target systemic corticosteroid
saturation 9395% (children: 94-98%)

CONTINUE TREATMENT with SABA as needed

WORSENING
ASSESS RESPONSE AT 1 HOUR (or earlier)

IMPROVING

ASSESS FOR DISCHARGE ARRANGE at DISCHARGE

Symptoms improved, not needing SABA Reliever: continue as needed
PEF improving, and >60-80% of personal Controller: start, or step up. Check inhaler technique,
best or predicted adherence
Oxygen saturation >94% room air Prednisolone: continue, usually for 57 days
(3-5 days for children)
Resources at home adequate
Follow up: within 27 days

FOLLOW UP
Reliever: reduce to as-needed
Controller: continue higher dose for short term (12 weeks) or long term (3 months), depending
on background to exacerbation
Risk factors: check and correct modifiable risk factors that may have contributed to exacerbation,
including inhaler technique and adherence
Action plan: Is it understood? Was it used appropriately? Does it need modification?

GINA 2017, Box 4-3 (7/7) Global Initiative for Asthma

 Managing exacerbations in Acute Care Settings (e.g. Emergency Department)
for adults, adolescents and children 6 years and older

INITIAL ASSESSMENT Are any of the following present?

A: airway B: breathing C: circulation Drowsiness, Confusion, Silent chest

NO
YES

Further TRIAGE BY CLINICAL STATUS Consult ICU, start SABA and O2,
according to worst feature and prepare patient for intubation

MILD or MODERATE SEVERE

Talks in phrases Talks in words
Prefers sitting to lying Sits hunched forwards
Not agitated Agitated
Respiratory rate increased Respiratory rate >30/min
Accessory muscles not used Accessory muscles being used
Pulse rate 100120 bpm Pulse rate >120 bpm
O2 saturation (on air) 9095% O2 saturation (on air) < 90%
PEF >50% predicted or best PEF 50% predicted or best

GINA 2017, Box 4-4 (2/4) Global Initiative for Asthma

 MILD or MODERATE SEVERE
Talks in phrases Talks in words
Prefers sitting to lying Sits hunched forwards
Not agitated Agitated
Respiratory rate increased Respiratory rate >30/min
Accessory muscles not used Accessory muscles being used
Pulse rate 100120 bpm Pulse rate >120 bpm
O2 saturation (on air) 9095% O2 saturation (on air) < 90%
PEF >50% predicted or best PEF 50% predicted or best

Short-acting beta2-agonists Short-acting beta2-agonists

Consider ipratropium bromide Ipratropium bromide
Controlled O2 to maintain Controlled O2 to maintain
saturation 9395% (children 94-98%) saturation 9395% (children 94-98%)
Oral corticosteroids Oral or IV corticosteroids
Consider IV magnesium
Consider high dose ICS

GINA 2017, Box 4-4 (3/4)

 Short-acting beta2-agonists Short-acting beta2-agonists
Consider ipratropium bromide Ipratropium bromide
Controlled O2 to maintain Controlled O2 to maintain
saturation 9395% (children 94-98%) saturation 9395% (children 94-98%)
Oral corticosteroids Oral or IV corticosteroids
Consider IV magnesium
Consider high dose ICS

If continuing deterioration, treat as

severe and re-assess for ICU

ASSESS CLINICAL PROGRESS FREQUENTLY

MEASURE LUNG FUNCTION
in all patients one hour after initial treatment

FEV1 or PEF <60% of predicted or

FEV1 or PEF 60-80% of predicted or
personal best,or lack of clinical response
personal best and symptoms improved
SEVERE
MODERATE
Continue treatment as above
Consider for discharge planning
and reassess frequently

GINA 2017, Box 4-4 (4/4) Global Initiative for Asthma